Emmerdale celebrates its 50th birthday today, and for people in the north-east, the anniversary means much more than a half-century milestone.
The show started life as Emmerdale Farm on October 16 1972, becoming simply Emmerdale from 1994.
Over the years, many members of the cast of the ITV soap have made their way to the north-east to help raise thousands for various charities, including Anthony Nolan.
They’ve been welcome faces at things like the Emmerdale Extravaganza, proving good sports as they join in the challenges alongside cancer warriors and their friends and family.
The ties that bind are emotional ones, with family tragedies often at their heart, but the Emmerdale cast has always gone the extra mile to support and cheer their north-east fans.
The tradition took off in 2001 when cast members descended on the north-east over a to take part in a range of activities in aid of the Anthony Nolan, organised by the Ellon Times in partnership with George Walker of the Anthony Nolan Trust.
Ellon Times set up the first fundraiser
In the evening, there was a fund raising dinner at the Holiday Inn, Dyce.
On the Sunday, an Emmerdale cricket team which included Andy Gorman, the former Scotland footballer and Graeme Roope the England and Surrey player met an Aberdeenshire Cricket Club side at Mannofield.
Over the two days, the cast visited Newburgh Golf Club before going on to Ellon where hundreds of people lined the streets to welcome the cast.
Various commercials outlets were visited throughout the day to collect funds for the aforementioned Anthony Nolan Trust, including the Station Hotel, Ellon where among others in the cast Zak Dingle pulled pints for customers.
Over the two days, approximately £34,000 was raised, setting the tone for subsequent visits, the next of which was in 2002.
Actor Emma Atkins, aka Charity Tate, bravely undertook a wing walk on the Utterly Butterly bi-plane took place in memory of young Kevin Humphreys, who had died that Christmas from lymphoblastic leukaemia.
She said afterwards: “It was terrifying taking off but when you were up there it was amazing.
Kevin’s wing walk wish
Anthony Nolan area manager George Walker said the event would be especially poignant, because of Kevin’s wish to do a wing walk before he lost his fight to the illness.
“Kevin always said to me that he wanted to do something risky to raise money for the trust, and so we are doing it for him,” said Mr Walker.
Many Emmerdale actors over the years have taken part in the wing walk.
Eight actors also took part in a golf tournament at Newmachar Golf Club, before joining a vintage vehicle and Harley Davidson motorbike parade, from Newmachar to Inverurie.
Actor Chris Chittel, who plays Eric Pollard, joined other Emmerdale members and some 350 runners in the 10km fun run from Kellands Park.
He praised the man behind the event’s organisation, George Walker, and said: “We have twice the amount of cast members than we had last year, and I didn’t even have to ask as they all volunteered.”
Among the galaxy of stars that year were Jack Sugden, Chris Tait, Marlon Dingle, Terry Woods, Ashley the vicar, and Betty the village gossip who was cut down to size when she was sawn in half during the charity dinner.
The fun didn’t end there when next day cast members took on Ellon Gordon Cricket Team at the town’s Gordon Park, and graciously lost.
The fund-raising frolics have continued almost annually ever since.
The stars have always proved themselves good sports, whatever the challenge, be it golf, running or even herding ducks.
‘Mingle with a Dingle’
Amanda Yule, diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia aged 15, had heartwarming support from the Emmerdale cast, including James Cook (Ryan Lamb, 2009-2011) in 2010, after she’d received her bone marrow transplant.
Four years later, aged 19 and a student at Aberdeen College, Amanda had been fundraising hard for the charities which had helped her, and was visited by Natalie Robb (Moira Barton).
After the Emmerdale star’s visit, she said: “It was amazing. I’m a fan of Emmerdale and it was great to meet Natalie. She was lovely.”
‘The Mingle with a Dingle’ tradition has seen Emmerdale cast members support many north-east cancer warriors in many different ways over the past two decades, and they continue to do so.
This year Chris Chittel, who describes the north-east of Scotland as his second home, was back for the Charlie House charity bash, alongside Laurence Robb, who plays Mackenzie Boyd.
He said: “Over the last few years much has happened behind the scenes at Emmerdale and I look forward to sharing it with everyone and raising much-needed funds for Charlie House.”
With that kind of generosity and commitment, raising a glass to celebrate Emmerdale’s half-century is definitely in order.
Read more: Emmerdale crew kick off 50th-anniversary celebrations ahead of October milestone
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